French Police Arrest Six After Magistrate Kidnapped in Crypto Ransom Plot

French police have successfully apprehended six individuals connected to the audacious kidnapping of a magistrate earlier this week, an incident fueled by a demand for a substantial cryptocurrency ransom.

The victim, identified only as a senior investigating judge operating in the region of Marseille, was forcibly taken from their home on Tuesday evening. Authorities state that the kidnappers held the magistrate captive for nearly 48 hours, moving them between several safe houses while communicating their demands.

The kidnappers demanded a ransom equivalent to €5 million, payable entirely in Bitcoin. The sophisticated nature of the demand—using decentralized currency to mask the transaction—indicated a highly organized criminal operation, potentially leveraging cybercrime expertise alongside physical coercion.

The investigation, spearheaded by the National Gendarmerie’s specialized anti-kidnapping unit, utilized advanced surveillance and digital forensics to trace communications linked to the ransom demand. The operation culminated in simultaneous raids across three different locations near Lyon and Aix-en-Provence early Thursday morning, resulting in the peaceful release of the magistrate and the arrest of the six suspects.

The magistrate was found physically unharmed, though severely traumatized, and is currently receiving medical and psychological support. The six suspects are facing charges including kidnapping, extortion, and participation in an organized criminal enterprise. Police sources suggest the investigation is ongoing to determine if additional individuals or international crime syndicates were involved in the sophisticated plot.

Source: French Police Arrest Six After Magistrate Kidnapped in Crypto Ransom Case